Kim Cattrall: 'I'm happy not to be a sex icon'

Kim Cattrall has revealed that she is ready to move on from being considered a "sexual icon".

The 54-year-old Sex and the City actress insisted that she is happy that she is no longer such a sex symbol and can start taking on different roles such as an aging ex-porn star working as a pole dancer in new film Meet Monica Velour.

Cattrall told Empire: "It was so much fun to leave behind this kind of sexual icon thing. I was so ready to shed it. I've been sexualised since a very early part of my career.

"I understand it, I've made it work for me, but I've always felt that I'm a character actress stuck inside a leading lady's body. Now, I feel like I am doing my best work."

Cattrall added that she was surprised other actresses in their 50s were not lining up for the movie role, suggesting that it was due to the presence of new director Keith Bearden.

"I read the script and I thought, 'Why is no-one campaigning to play this role? This is so well written, it's touching, it's sweet, it's a love story'.

"I thought, 'Why are actresses my age not beating down the door?' and I think part of it was because it is in the hands of a first time director."